Publication

Abstract : Objectives: To review the clinical signs, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, bacteriology, and outcome of patients treated for lateral sinus thrombosis (LST). Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of nine patients treated with an intraoperatively confirmed diagnosis of LST. Nine patients presenting with LST of otogenic cause were included in this study. All charts related to clinical presentation, operation records, investigations, and other pertinent data were reviewed and analyzed. Results: All the patients were children aged 7-12 years. Computed tomography scan revealed the diagnosis of LST. None of the patients responded to initial conservative management. Patients underwent canal wall down mastoidectomy with evacuation of infected thrombus. Cholesteatoma was present in all the ears. Infected thrombi grew gram-negative organisms (Psuedomonas-6, Enterobacter-1, Klebsiella-1, and no growth in the other). Conclusion: In children with suppurative otitis media, clinical presentation of ear ache/headache, neck pain, or swelling with papilledema should warrant an evaluation to rule out LST and associated intracranial complications.